Objectively speaking, Jamaica is a beautiful country with such a rich history you can practically put your fingers on it. It’s going to be hard to figure out where the best place to start your trip is, especially if it is your first visit.
There is a little bit of something for every type of personality: Casinos for the gambler, rainforests for the environmentalist, beaches for the vacationer, and delicious bites for the foodie.
With breathtaking scenery, museums, urban legends, and tons of attractions, how in the world can the adventurous one be satisfied in just one week?
The answer is very simply that they can’t, and you’ll just have to come back to get your fill of adventure again, so it’s important to make as much of the first trip as possible to wet your appetite for the island adequately.
Thankfully, over at Jamaica Hotel Review, we have you covered.
Here are a handful of locations to help get you started:
Dolphin Cove (Ocho Rios)
Dolphin Cove is ranked as one of the top attractions in not only Jamaica but also the Caribbean. Here guests can enjoy swimming and interact with friendly dolphins and stingrays (yeah they’re friendly too!). There are alot more activities to enjoy here too like the jungle trail and mini-boat rides.
It makes for an exciting and enjoyable time for the whole family. You’ll want to reserve a complete day for this alone. For more information on this attraction see my article here.
Konoko Falls (Ocho Rios)
I recently decided to list Konoko Falls as my pick for one of the top family attractions in Ocho Rios. Some may dispute me and say that title belongs to Dolphin Cove. But I loved Konoko because of how amazing everything was. There’s a plant tour, bird aviary and mini zoo and of course the amazing waterfalls. While not a whole ton of activities, it still provides a full day of fun and enjoyment (and there are plans to add even more activities here too!). Definitely worth a visit if you’re here.
Dunn’s River Falls
Since you’re already in Ocho Rios, it’s important that I mention Dunn’s River Falls. This attraction is perhaps the most well-known worldwide. Tourists enjoy climbing the majestic waterfalls from the bottom to the top. There are tons of photo opportunities and the challenge of climbing to the top is exhilarating. Pack your water shoes and prepare for some fun!
Rose Hall Guest House (In Montego Bay)
Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? The striking Georgian mansion has a fascinating ghost story attached. It was even featured in the first season of Scariest Places on Earth! The legend goes that Annie Palmer, orphaned during an outbreak of yellow fever, was taught witchcraft and voodoo by her nanny before she married Johnny Palmer. During her reign of terror, she murdered two husbands and several of her male slaves before ultimately being killed by a slave herself.
It is said she still haunts this place to this day.
Mystic Mountain (Ocho Rios)
This popular tourist attraction takes you right to the heart of the Jamaican rainforest. Here you can enjoy bobsledding down the mountain through the lush greenery, or zip-line through the canopy.
This family-friendly park has a little something for everybody and offers some package deals for the person who wants to try a little bit of everything while here.
Vernamfield (Clarendon)
This is the first race car track in Jamaica and is known for drag races. It is also a former air base that any War buff will want to get to see.
It also had a significant role in WWII, acting as a bomber field and antisubmarine force headquarters. As for its current state, there are major plans to turn Vernamfield into the next major airport in Jamaica, so you might want to see this piece of history before it’s gone.
Bob Marley Museum (Kingston)
Love him or hate him, Bob Marley was an undeniable gem of Jamaica. Music fans do not need an introduction to this man, but for the rest, Bob Marley was a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
In his very short life, he broke the mold when it came to music, but rebuilt it and opened a whole new genre of music by creating a unique blend of other genres.
He is extremely revered in the music community for his truth to self, his salt-of-the-earth personality, and his raw, natural talent.
He was a Kingston native, and his hometown has a museum in his honor. Any fan would be thrilled to be immersed in this man’s history and guitars. Learn more about the legend through the article I wrote about my Museum Tour.
Doctor’s Cave Beach Club (Montego Bay)
Don’t think you can go through a list of Jamaican attractions and not hear us mention an amazing beach. With turquoise, crystal-clear waters and white sand, this is a must-visit if you’re looking for a relaxed day.
Doctor’s Cave Beach has been one of the most famous beaches in the country for a century for the very reason that it offers this specific slice of paradise in spades. It is relatively sheltered, as far as beaches go, which makes for very calm waters.
In 1880, a man named Doctor Alexander James McCatty founded an asylum nearby, where he allowed close friends, mostly doctors at the asylum, to go out and relax on the beach. He donated the land in 1906 to the community, and around two decades later, another doctor visited the beach and was so inspired and compelled by its beauty that he wrote an article about it.
This is credited to the popularity of this beach, so you might even say that Doctor’s Cave Beach Club is the “beachiest beach” in Jamaica!
If you thirst for a more local adventure in Jamaica, talk to your receptionist at the hotel. They are bound to have a few ideas that are “off the map” and will give you a more customized Jamaican
vacation.
